How I added 8-10 extra hours every week

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Entrepreneurs all want the same thing: more hours, extra hands, and the ability to focus on our zone of genius.

As people, we often have the same goals wishing we could do more fun projects, get out to spend time with friends and family, and get off work without seeing our homes as another unending project list.

Laundry. Dishes. Deliveries. Files.

What’s an adult to do?

Enter: the personal assistant.

We’re all familiar with the concept of a virtual assistant to work on blog posts, create graphics or communicate with clients, but a whole lot of good that does when you’ve finished a 12-hour day and have no clean dishes, an empty fridge and an overflowing laundry basket.

Just like hiring a virtual assistant, you need to be really clear about what you want and develop good boundaries. It was important to me to find someone who was okay with light cleaning and had flexible availability, and I didn’t need someone who understood Infusionsoft, social media, or graphic design.

Systems tip: Use a local service or Craigslist to start the search. Always meet candidates in person at a public place (like Starbucks) and don’t give them your address until they’re hired.

With my PA, we have a good understanding now of tasks that are on the list (cleaning, organizing, file management, food prep) and those that are not (mowing the lawn, taking care of my dogs, cooking, or heavy duty cleaning).

It’s best to put your goals for this assistant in your job posting to help filter out the candidates who don’t want to do the work you need done.

A personal assistant gives me 8-10 extra hours each week

All throughout the week, I take note of what needs to be done and immediately write things down on a clipboard that stays in the kitchen. Sure, there are digital ways to make lists but I like having something physical so I can walk around the house and make a list and then cross things off if they get done.

Knowing that tasks will get done and I won’t need to worry about them allows me to get right back to work.

Even budgeting for 5 hours a week multiples my time – imagine getting all the tasks you hate out of the way. Instead of peeling and cutting carrots, I can simply dump them in a pan and grill them for dinner. Instead of emptying trash cans and rushing the bags out for garbage pickup, I can relax.

Additionally, my personal assistant often does tasks a lot more efficiently than I do because, for her, the list is linear and simple. When I’m cleaning or working on a project, there are a hundred other things that I could be doing.

Maybe you’ve experienced this…

You’re cleaning the kitchen, it’s all you need to do tonight, and as you clean you remember that email you needed to send. Quick – 10 minute break! Then you find something that needs to go to the office. While you’re there you might as well dust off the desk. Back to the kitchen, and by now it’s been an hour so you just focus on the dishes. Whew, those are done. Turn around and crap! More pots and pans still on the stove.

What might take me an hour as I combat distractions and other chores, for my PA, it’s on the list and gets done 100% before she goes to the next task saving me so much time.

Finally is the sense of peace and calm, something that’s hard to qualify but makes a noticeable impact. There’s peace in knowing that tomorrow this list of things will get done. It’s easier to work when my environment is organized and clean(er) so my productivity continues all week long and I can spend more time doing what I want on the weekends.

Want to get started with your own Personal Assistant? Download my list of 50+ Tasks to Outsource to a Personal Assistant.

I’ve documented most of the tasks my PA does around my home sorted by room and in categories like errands and online. Get it now!